How is the recycling rate calculated?

It is the weight of materials sent to recycling or composting divided by total waste generated, expressed as a percentage. Recycling rate = recycled weight / (recycled + general waste). Organic waste sent to composting or anaerobic digestion counts as diverted.

How are the CO2 savings estimated?

Each recycled material avoids the emissions of producing it from virgin sources and avoids landfill emissions. The tool applies typical net CO2e saving factors per kilogram — highest for metals and paper, lower for glass — relative to landfilling that material.

What is a good recycling rate?

England's household recycling rate is around 44 percent and the EU target is 55 percent of municipal waste by 2025, rising to 65 percent by 2035. Above 60 percent is strong for a household; well-run businesses with good segregation can exceed 70 to 80 percent.

Should I include food waste?

Yes, if it is collected separately for composting or anaerobic digestion, count it under organic — it is diverted from landfill. Food waste that goes in general rubbish counts as landfill. Separating food waste is often the quickest way to lift a household rate.

Why does landfill have its own emissions?

Biodegradable waste in landfill breaks down anaerobically and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Recycling avoids both that methane and the energy of making new material from raw resources, which is why the avoided emissions can be several kilograms of CO2e per kilogram for some materials.

Recycling Rate Estimator

Knowing your recycling rate turns a vague intention into a measurable number you can improve. This estimator takes a one-week waste audit, splits it into recyclable streams and general waste, and reports both your diversion rate and the carbon you avoid by not sending those materials to landfill.

How it works

The rate is a simple ratio, and the carbon saving sums per-material avoided emissions:

recycled weight = paper + plastic + glass + metal + organic
total waste     = recycled weight + general waste
recycling rate  = recycled weight / total waste × 100

CO2 saved (kg/week) = Σ (material weight × net saving factor per kg)
annual CO2 saved    = weekly saving × 52

The saving factor for each material is the net CO2e avoided versus landfilling it — high for metals and paper, lower for glass — so the same recycling rate can deliver very different carbon outcomes depending on the mix.

Example and tips

A household recycling 2 kg of paper, 1 kg of plastic, 1.5 kg of glass, 0.5 kg of metal, and 3 kg of food waste while throwing 4 kg in general rubbish recycles 8 of 12 kg — a 67 percent rate, comfortably above the EU 2025 target. The biggest quick wins are usually separating food waste and capturing metal cans, which carry the highest per-kilogram carbon saving. Reducing contamination matters too: a recyclable stream spoiled by food residue may be rejected and sent to landfill anyway.